TRIPLE TREAT

A grade premiership win

THE Bomaderry Tigers have joined some elite company in the South Coast AFL becoming only the third club to win three first grade flags in a row. The Tigers won the first grade premiership with a commanding 10-goal victory over Northern Districts in the season decider at Artie Smith Oval on Saturday.

The game was to be staged at North Dalton Park, but when that ground became unavailable late in the week and the game was hastily moved to Bomaderry on Friday. It may have looked like the Tigers had a comfortable win on the scoreboard, 18.16 (124) to 9.7 (61), but they did have to withstand a strong comeback from Norths, especially in the second term. It was three late goals into the wind in the second term that set up a 19-point lead at the main break. From there the Tigers

blew the game apart in the championship quarter with a dominating performance to lead by 60 at the last change.The Bomaderry Tigers now join some elite company with only two other clubs having completed three straight titles wins – Albatross has done it twice

(1990-91-92) and (1995-96-97), while Batemans Bay won four straight titles (1985-86-87-88) when it

was the Leisure Coast League.Bomaderry captain coach Clarrie Raymer was delighted with the premiership win in his first year in charge, saying to win three flags in a row was “pretty special.” The Tigers dedicated their

premiership win to hardworking club member Kelvin Ganderton who passed away during the season. Brad

Graham kicked six goals for the winners, Raymer four and Nick McDonald two, while Bomaderry’s Sean Byrnes was adjudged best on ground. In second grade

University of Wollongong completed a remarkable debut season with a three point win over Bomaderry in the grand final.

• Full details of both the SCAFL first and second grade grand finals appears on pages 50-51.